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Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2016-2019)

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Old Feb 12, 2016, 8:56 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: beltway
This is the general 2016-2019 thread for weighing the relative merits
of keeping, downgrading, or canceling Chase-issued credit cards.


Post-2019 discussion continues in this thread.

What's the main reason people product change (PC)?
The benefits offered by a particular card, might suit you better than the card you are holding. Many people, unable to qualify for a new Chase Sapphire Reserve application, upgraded from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve, because the benefits of the CSR's cash reimbursements made the annual fee a nominal difference the first year. And vice versa- the onerous $450 yearly fee of the CSR makes an appealing case to downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred, and eventually to the no-fee Sapphire or a Freedom card.

Many people product change to avoid the annual fees on the premium versions of the card. Keeping the card open, via a product change, keeps the account open. This allows you to retain the seasoned account, and the banking relationship that the older card has established with Chase.

Why not just cancel the card and be done with it?
This may be the right choice for you, but others want some of the card benefits without having to reapply. Also, Chase has become very restrictive for new card applicants. For Chase cards, you must wait 24- 48 months since the last time you received a bonus before reapplying. Please see the threads on the individual cards for updated overlay rules.

An additional (and more stringent) overlay is the infamous 5/24 rule, which Chase instituted in May 2016 as a counter-measure against churning, or, as they refer to it, "Serial Starters." The 5/24 rule is that you won't be eligible for most Chase card products if you've opened more than 5 credit cards in 24 months. For more on this and other application-related issues, see the current "Applying for Chase Credit Cards " Master thread.

Finally, canceling certain cards--those earning Chase Ultimate Rewards--may deprive you of the ability to exchange UR for miles/points in air & hotel programs. See Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, times & rules.

Is there any way I can keep a card without paying the annual fee?
See Chase Retention Bonuses: June 2015-Present

Are there any restrictions on product changes?
Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards. Also, Chase cites the federal CARD Act to deny product changes on any account less that one year old.

Will a product change count as a new card?
No, you will keep your same card number, "opened on" date, credit line, automatic payment arrangements, etc. A product change does not count against Chase's 5/24 limitations on new cards.

Will I get a signup bonus when I change?
No, product changes do not result in point bonuses. Signup bonuses are reserved for new applicants only. For the complete list of public sign up offers, check the Chase sitemap here: https://creditcards.chase.com/sitemap

Is there a place I can look to compare cards?
Go here: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...D=177087865887
Click: All cards
Place a checkmark in the Compare box for up to three cards.
Click: Compare cards...and you should see a side-by-side display.

I've figured out what I want to switch to. How do I product change my card?
Call the number on the back of your card.

Product changes for the Ultimate Reward Business and Personal Card Family

The UR family of cards includes the Chase Ink business cards, the Freedom Unlimited, the Freedom Card, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve and Sapphire.

The Slate (personal) card is also available to downgrade to. It has no annual fee and does not earn any type of reward points. It offers a low fee (currently 0% for the first 60 days) balance transfers and APR.

Personal Cards
  • Freedom: 5X points in rotating quarterly categories up to $1500 spend per quarter. If you max out the $1500 every quarter, it totals 7500 UR per quarter, or 30,000 UR per year.
  • Freedom Unlimited: 1.5X for all spending, no bonus categories. $20,000 in spend would net 30,000 UR per year.
  • Sapphire Reserve: $450 annual fee, $300 annual travel credit, 3X points for travel and dining. Books travel through the UR portal for 1.5 per dollar. Lounge access and other goodies. See the thread here for details.
  • Sapphire Preferred: $95 annual fee, 2X points for travel & dining
  • Sapphire: Not available to new applicants. Available as a product downgrade/change only, must tier down from the Sapphire Reserve to Sapphire Preferred to Sapphire or Freedom cards. No annual fee. Some Customer Service Reps are citing that the original product (i.e., the CSR), must be held for one year before downgrading. Please provide data points in the thread if this happens to you.


Business Cards
  • Ink Plus: $95 annual fee, 5X office supplies, 5X cellular/landline/cable; 2X gas and hotels
  • Ink Preferred: 3x on travel, shipping, internet/phone/cable, & some online advertising.
  • Ink Cash: No annual fee, 5X office supplies, 5X cellular/landline/cable; 2X gas and restaurants

If you still have a legacy Ink Classic or Ink Bold business card, neither of which is available for new signups, you can product change to one of the other Ink cards.

Considerations for downgrading/upgrading:

Can I combine my UR points?
Yes, UR can be combined freely across the cardholder's own personal and business accounts.

What about transfering my UR to another person's Chase UR account? To their air/hotel partner account?
With restrictions, UR from a personal card can be transferred to a person living at the same address. Business cards allow transfer to owners of the company listed as authorized users.

However, be warned that there are transfer restrictions. Unauthorized transfers have resulted in shut-downs. Review the Chase T&C for details before planning a transfer. For discussion, see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...-accounts.html.

The Freedom cards, no-fee Ink Cash, and no-fee Sapphire cards do not allow UR transfer to airline/hotel partners. If you are downgrading from a premium UR card and will only have no-fee cards left, it may be prudent to transfer your points to the partner of your choice beforehand.

I know I can use UR to pay for travel directly (as opposed to transfering points into a travel partner program). Do the Chase UR cards differ on this?
Only the Sapphire Reserve books travel on the UR portal for 1.5. So you can stack your card bonus opportunities when your UR points are combined into your CSR account and used for booking travel. If, for instance, you earned 5x on your Ink Plus on your phone bill, and combine those 5x Ink earned points into your CSR's UR account, you'll now get an additional .5 in value when you redeem them on the travel portal.

Product Changes for United Airlines Cards

There are options to downgrade or upgrade UA cards.
  • United Mileage Plus Card- no annual fee, 1 UA mile per $2 in spend
  • United Mileage Plus Explorer Card- $95 annual fee, 1 mile per dollar earning, additional award inventory on UA, free checked bag, 25% bonus on the shopping portal.
  • United Plus Club Card- $450 annual fee, 1.5 miles per $1, many additional premium card benefits
  • Business Cards for the Mileage Plus and Club Card give you a choice to upgrade or downgrade between those two.

Southwest Airlines Cards

The difference here is a nominal $30/3000 points per year.

Personal cards
  • Plus Card- $69 annual fee, 3000 bonus points upon renewal
  • Premiere Card- $99 annual fee, 6000 bonus points upon renewal
The Business cards also have a Plus and Premiere version.
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Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2016-2019)

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Old Aug 24, 2016, 9:45 pm
  #181  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, CC Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Choice Plat
Posts: 306
Originally Posted by Clayfu
if you already have a freedom and freedom unlimited you can't convert your CSP to another freedom. You can only hold one of each card.
not true ..i have two freedoms
techoin is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2016, 9:47 pm
  #182  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
Originally Posted by Clayfu
if you already have a freedom and freedom unlimited you can't convert your CSP to another freedom. You can only hold one of each card.
What if you close one of the freedoms first?
slickvik is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2016, 11:04 pm
  #183  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
Originally Posted by Clayfu
if you already have a freedom and freedom unlimited you can't convert your CSP to another freedom. You can only hold one of each card.
This is not true at all.

I have two Freedoms and my CSP is eligible to PC to Freedom, Freedom Unlimited or Slate.
mhdena is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2016, 11:10 pm
  #184  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
Originally Posted by frudd38
Is the CSP AF applied immediately when PC'ed from a Freedom? And does the 180 days refund apply when doing this PC?

Any datapoints on PC from Freedom to CSR?
AF immediately applied.

Call the number on the back of the Freedom and ask about what PC options there are, they will tell you.
Probably tell you about the fee refund also.
mhdena is offline  
Old Aug 25, 2016, 12:04 am
  #185  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,577
Originally Posted by Clayfu
if you already have a freedom and freedom unlimited you can't convert your CSP to another freedom. You can only hold one of each card.
Completely wrong. I know some that even have 3 freedoms open, 2 of them from CSP PC.

Originally Posted by mhdena
AF immediately applied.

Call the number on the back of the Freedom and ask about what PC options there are, they will tell you.
Probably tell you about the fee refund also.
Thank you.
frudd38 is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 5:22 am
  #186  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 148
What to downgrade my CSP to

So I got approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Whats the commendation on which project to downgrade my Chase Sapphire Preferred to?

I already have the regular Chase Freedom card.
Can I have both Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom unlimited?

Then I can do the following:
Chase Freedom unlimited for everyday purchases.
Chase Freedom for the 5% categories
Chase Sapphire Reserve for travel, and restaurants.
Polo2883 is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 5:58 am
  #187  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,210
You can even have two Freedom cards if you like
blitzen is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 6:18 am
  #188  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SBA and LAX
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 334
Same, same!

I have to close/convert CSP by December .I am thinking PCing into FU (reduce the CL, perhaps) and maintain that account for average account age purpose. I already have a freedom. Another freedom doesnt make sense since I hardly hit $1500 a quarter for bonus category (come close when its restaurants). I could use FU for anything thats not in freedom bonus or CSR 3x.

While we are on this thread, If some PC CSP -> FU, is it possible to get CSP sign up bonus a year or more later ? (At the point it'd be 24+ months since I the first CSP bonus).
daKav is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 6:46 am
  #189  
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
Originally Posted by Polo2883
Then I can do the following:
Chase Freedom unlimited for everyday purchases.
Chase Freedom for the 5% categories
Chase Sapphire Reserve for travel, and restaurants.
This is exactly my plan. It maximizes the points usage from CFU and CF, whether I use UR Travel Portal or transfer to partners. I would say that's a smart plan! ^
roundtree is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 8:30 am
  #190  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 818
Originally Posted by daKav
While we are on this thread, If some PC CSP -> FU, is it possible to get CSP sign up bonus a year or more later ? (At the point it'd be 24+ months since I the first CSP bonus).
Yes - assuming you can get approved for it with 5/24.
bodiddely is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 1:01 pm
  #191  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SBA and LAX
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 334
Originally Posted by bodiddely
Yes - assuming you can get approved for it with 5/24.
These days I am concerned more about 5/24 than a fradulent activity
daKav is offline  
Old Aug 26, 2016, 1:10 pm
  #192  
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Originally Posted by daKav
These days I am concerned more about 5/24 than a fradulent activity
But both less than Keyser Soze.
josephstern is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2016, 8:13 am
  #193  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
Question

My friend has a very old United Chase chipped card that is simply labeled as "MileagePlus Card". This is not the current Explorer card but it has the same design. She claims its a card shes had for many years since before the merger when she was in college. She also says it has no AF. I am just trying to help her out and find out what kind of benefits, if any, this card has. I tried searching and cant find any info about this card.



picture of said card

Last edited by EmailKid; Aug 29, 2016 at 8:45 am Reason: back to back posts
xkr0p is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2016, 8:50 am
  #194  
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
xkr0p,

we have a dedicated Chase forum, so I'm moving the thread there.

~moderator

FWIW,

I also have this card. Got it as downgrade when I cancelled my Club card.

IIRC, .5 miles per $ spent, but never got on u/g list on reward travel like I did with Club card.
EmailKid is offline  
Old Aug 29, 2016, 9:49 am
  #195  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
Originally Posted by EmailKid
xkr0p,

we have a dedicated Chase forum, so I'm moving the thread there.

~moderator

FWIW,

I also have this card. Got it as downgrade when I cancelled my Club card.

IIRC, .5 miles per $ spent, but never got on u/g list on reward travel like I did with Club card.
Thanks! I wish I could find some list of the benefits but literally nothing comes up when I search anywhere.
xkr0p is offline  


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